Shipping containers



y 1966 w. G. ROCKEFELLER 3,252,646

SHIPPING CONTAINERS Filed May 20, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 "3. ii I 32 J 2 r W i 2 r" I l 23 30 l (EN 2 g 38I 34 50 5o INVENTOR 28 29 WINSTON G. ROCKEFELLER L BY far-44W 9 M 25 23 27 i ATTORNEYS y 1966 w. G. ROCKEFELLER 3,252,646

SHIPPING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1964 IN VENTOR WINSTON G. ROCKEFELLER ATTORNEYS y 1966 w. G. ROCKEFELLER 3,252,646

SHIPPING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 20, 1964 INVENTOR WINSTON G ROCKEFELLER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,252,646 SHIPPING CONTAINERS Winston G. Rockefeller, Woodclifi Lake, N.J., assignor to Colgate-Paimolive Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 20, 1964, Ser. No. 368,904

12 Claims. (Cl. 229I) This invention relates to shipping containers and more particularly to shipping containers that are capable of being subdivided into units and wherein either the original container or each unit may be partially cut away to provide for display of a product.

It is the major object. of the invention to provide a novel shipping container assembly having such internal structure and external score and/ or printed markings that it may be cut away for display of the product, or it may be subdivided into individual units each capable of being cut away for display of the product.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel packing container assembly having secured therewithin sleeve structure defining separate relatively self-contained units into which the assembly may be sub-divided.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel container assembly of the foregoing type which is collapsible for shipping and storage prior to introduction of the product.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel shipping container assembly having internal sleeves secured to the container body walls and capable of subdivision into units each incorporating part of the body and an attached sleeve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shipping container assembly that may be cut away to provide a novel display tray structure.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds in connection with the appended claims and the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a fiat-folded container assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, partially broken away to show detail;

FIGURE 2 is an open-end view of the folded container assembly of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top view illustrating relative movement of the walls as the container assembly of FIGURE 1 is expanded to useful condition;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section showing the container assembly internal sleeve structure;

FIGURE 5 is a substantially perspective view showing the closed container assembly as it is ready for storage and/ or shipping;

FIGURE 6 is a substantially perspective view showing a subdivided container assembly unit with the upper portion removed for display;

FIGURE 7 is an exploded generally perspective view showing a further embodiment wherein the container assembly may be subdivided into three separate units;

FIGURE 8 is a generally perspective view showing the container assembly of FIGURE 7 ready for filling and closing;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view in section showing the bottom interior of the container assembly of FIGURES 7 and 8;

FIGURE 10 is a generally perspective view showing a further embodiment capable of subdividing in four units, with most of the top flap structure not shown for clarity; and

FIGURE 11 is a generally perspective exploded view showing a further embodiment wherein the container assembly may be subdivided into six units, the top flaps being shown both closed and in chain line open position.

Referring to FIGURES 1-6, the shipping container as- "ice sembly 21 is preferably fabricated for flat-folded shipment in collapsed condition from the place of its manufacture to the place where it is filled with the product.

The container assembly comprises a main receptacle provided by a single preformed and cut blank 22 of cardboard or the like having parallel side fold corners 23. The opposed blank side edges indicated at 24 are bridged by a flexible cloth or like adhesive tape 25, thereby forming a fourth corner, so that when expanded as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 a rectangular container body will be formed.

The container body 30 has parallel sides 26 and 27 and parallel ends 28 and 29. Integral with end 29 are top end flap 31 hingedly connected along fold line 32, and bottom end flap 33 hingedly connected along fold line 34. Similar hinged end flaps are integral with the other end 26. Integral with side 27 are top side flap 35 hingedly connected along fold line 36 and bottom side flap 37 hingedly connected along fold line 38. Similar hinged side flaps are integral with the other side 26. The upper fold lines define a continuous rim around the upper end of the con tainer body, and the lower fold lines define a continuous rim around the lower end of the container body.

Secured within body 30 are two identical cardboard or like collapsible sleeves 39 and 41 which in the expanded container are of hollow rectangular form with their inner walls contiguous and their outer side and end walls coextensively lining the adjacent sides and ends of the container body. These sleeves define open top and bottom rectangular unit cells. Sleeve 353 has its outer side wall 42 fixedly attached to container side 26, as by an adhesive layer indicated at 43. Similarly the outer side wall 44 of sleeve 41 is fixedly attached to container side 27 as by an adhesive layer indicated at 45. The adjacent inner side walls 46 and 47 of the sleeves are always in relatively slidable contact, as are the sleeve end walls with the internal surfaces of the container body ends. Each sleeve has a depth equal to that of the container body.

Thus, in the container assembly 21 as manufactured, the internal sleeves are so secured in place as to be properly located to define unit cells when the blank is expanded, but yet the sleeves are collapsible with the body to permit the flat folded assembly shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 shows the closed packed container assembly 21. At the upper end the opposite end flaps 31 are folded in to overlie the sleeves, and the side flaps 35 are then folded in to enclose the end flaps and the sleeves. A suitable adhesive bonds the side and end flaps together and if desired a flexible tape may close the seam indicated at 48 in FIGURE 5. The lower end of the body is similarly closed by the flaps.

Referring to FIGURE 1 the surface of blank 22 is formed with cooperating sets of marker lines that indicate where the packed container assembly is to be cut .for unit subdivision and/or display. At each end of the body the marker line is a vertical perforated score line 50 which is parallel to and disposed halfway between the adjacent end corners. Score line 50 extends across both the body side and the associated end flaps 31 and 33.

A horizontal printed marker line 51 extends continuously peripherally around the container body at a level suitably above the bottom .rim of the container body. In FIGURE 5 it will be noted that score line 51 is close to the lower part of the body but any desired level may be selected.

As shown in FIGURE 5, score line 50 lies in the same vertical plane as the flap seams 48 and (FIGURE 4) the free interface between sleeve walls 46 and 47. The packed container assembly of FIGURE 6 contains for example a plurality of boxed bottles or cans indicated at 52 in FIGURE 6, there being six small boxes disposed upright within each sleeve, and therefore twelve boxes in container assembly 21.

The container assembly 21 may be speedily subdivided into two complete container units each closed and capable of retaining the boxes in place as for shelf storage or further handling, by cutting through the vertical plane containing score lines 50 and seams 48. Since the sleeves are anchored to the opposite container body walls, assembly is retained in the subdivided units each of which contains a cell.

The closed container assembly ofFIGURE 5 before subdivision, or each subdivided unit, may be out along lines 51 to provide a display tray without removing the contents. FIGURE 6 shows one of these subdivided units so cut away. The cut is made through the container body and sleeve walls and the top portion'is removed to expose the printed or partly transparent boxes 52 for displayr The sleeve end walls are usually trimmed away. It will be noted that this construction provides a strong mainly dual-walled lower tray indicated at 53, and is backed by the uncut inner sleeve wall 47. If desired the sleeve walls 46 and 47 may be scored' for removal at the level of display tray 53.

The closed container of FIGURE 5 may be prepared for display without subdivision merely by cutting all the way around on horizontal score line 51 and removing the entire top structure, as in the case of the unit. of FIGURE 6.

In some embodiments of the foregoing, as where the entire container assembly is prepared for display without subdivision, the completely tubular sleeves may be replaced by substantially U-shaped sleeves, which are the same as in FIGURES 1-6 but with the inner side walls 46 and 47 omitted. In such structures the score lines 50 would also be omitted. Also in all cases other types of attachment such as staples, brads and like may be used between the sleeves and container body. Further, each sleeve may be divided internally into a series of compartments, as by an egg-crate type of bafile arrangement whereby multiple articles may be contained and displayed.

Referring now to FIGURES 7-9, a rectangular container body 61 has parallel sides 62 with integral folding top side flaps 63, and parallel ends 64 with integral folding top end flaps 65. The bottom is closed by similar side and end flaps.

Three identical rectangular tubular open ended sleeves 66 are dropped into the container body 61 after the bottom flaps are closed, the depth of these sleeves being equal to the depth of the body. Each sleeve 66 is secured in place, as by stapling or adhesive bonding, to an adjacent body side wall. A pad 67 is dropped to the bottom of middle sleeve 66. This pad -is rectangular, about equal in area to the cross section of the sleeve and its bottom side is coated with adhesive whereby it becomes adhesively attached across the bottom side flaps 63 between the edges of the opposed end flaps 65 that already underlie the end sleeves. Each end flap 65 is of such size as to just cover the top of the adjacent sleeve.

The product articles are then placed in the sleeves, which may be internally subdivided as by the egg crate structure shown at 60, and the top flaps closed. If desired another pad 67 may close the upper end of middle sleeve and be adhesively bonded to the top side flaps 63 folded over it.

In this embodiment a continuous horizontal cutting indication line 68 extends entirely around the container body, so that the contents may be prepared for display by cutting all around line 68 and removing the top structure.

For subdividing the container assembly 61 into three self-contained cell units, two vertical parallel score or printed cutting indicator lines 69 and 70 are provided, these lines extending transversely across the body sides and both top and bottom side flaps. Lines 69 and 70 are located at the interfaces between the sleeves 66, so that when the container is cut along these lines three separate units are formed. In the unit comprising middle sleeve 66, the adhesively attached pads 67 hold the top and bottom flaps closed in the unit.

In this embodiment the two tubular end sleeves 66 may be replaced by U-shaped sleeves having their open ends at the ends of the container body. Also the pads 67 may be omitted by providing adhesive or mechanical interlocks for the central sections of the folded bottom side flaps 6-3.

FIGURE 10 shows another container assembly according to the invention wherein four individual rectangular tubular sleeves 71 are placed in a rectangular container body 72 in two rows and secured to the side and end walls as by staples 73. The top and bottom are closed by folding end flaps 74 that cover the adjacent sleeves an dside flaps 75 that fold over the end flaps.

Here the container assembly may be subdivided into four self-contained units by cutting along vertical printed or scored lines 76 and 77 which extend across the body and associated flaps in the planes of the interfaces between the inner walls of the sleeves.

A horizontal continuous printed or scored line 78 is provided all the way around the lower end of the body, so that when cut therealong the entire top structure above it may be removed, leaving a tray with the contents of the sleeves exposed for display. This removes the inner sleeve wall portions but the spacing is such that the product boxes, bottles, cans or the like support each other in the display assembly.

FIGURE 11 shows another embodiment wherein six individual rectangular tubular sleeves 81 are inserted into a rectangular container body 82 in two rows of three each. These sleeves are secured as by staples 83 to the body side walls. The top end and side flaps 84 and 85, which are duplicated at the bottom are shown closed. in the body portion of FIGURE 11. of sleeves 81, two substantially U-shaped pads 86 are inserted to the bottom of the central sleeves and adhesively attached both to at their bottoms to the closed bottom side flaps and at their edges 87 to the associated. sleeve, thus forming a permanent closure for the bottom of the sleeve. If desired these closures 86 can be provided for the tops of the central sleeves 81.

Also if desired the two end sleeves may be generally U-shaped as shown at the right side of FIGURE 11 with the sleeve open sides facing the adjacent ends of the container body.

The term sleeve means includes tubular and U- shaped sleeves.

In this embodiment a horizontal continuous printed or scored indicator line 88 extends all around the container body at the desired level. Also vertical printed or scored indicator lines 89 are provided in the body walls and flaps in alignment with all of the planes of interface between the respective sleeves.

Thus by cutting along line 88 the entire upper structure may be removed fordisplay of the entire contents. By cutting along lines 89, six independent self-contained SlibdiVlSiOll units may be provided each containing a sleeve 8 In all embodiments of the invention the container and sleeves are formed of cardboard, fibreboard or any like relatively stiff material used for shipping container purposes.

The invention therefore provides in all of its embodiments a novelcontainer assembly which may be subdivided into separate self-contained units, and wherein the container assembly as a whole or each unit individually may be cut away in part to provide a display tray arrangement.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not re- Before inserting the contents' strictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A divisible shipping or like container assembly comprising a main receptacle formed from a folded blank of relatively stiff material, said receptacle comprising a body closed at its sides by opposed side Walls and open at its top and bottom and having hinged flaps extending from the side walls along the edges of said top and bottom openings, said flaps at each opening when folded over toward each other serving to extend substantially entirely over the associated body opening, with each of one pair of both'top and bottom flaps which are hinged on opposite side walls of the body extending only a predetermined distance over said opening, individual sleeve means within said body forming separate open top and bottom unit cells within said body, each cell having dimension substantially equal to said predetermined distance so that said one pair of flaps extend. over and close the tops and bottoms of the adjacent cells within said body, means separately securing an outer side of each of said sleeve means to a side wall of said receptacle body with the inner sides of said sleeve means being unconnected and separable from each other within the body, and at least one external indicator line formed on said receptacle lying in a plane passing between adjacent inner sides of said sleeve means whereby the closed container assembly may be subdivided into separate individual units each comprising a cell covered at top and bottom by sections of said flaps.

2. The container assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said blank and sleeve means comprise a connected collapsible assembly prior to insertion of the contents.

3. The container assembly defined in claim 1, wherein another indicator line formed on the external surface of said body extends all around the body at right angles to said first mentioned indicator line whereby when severed along said other line the body top may be removed to display the contents upstanding from the tray-like bottom.

4. A shipping or like container assembly comprising a main receptacle formed from a folded blank of relatively stiff material, said receptacle comprising a rectangular body closed along all four sides and open at its top and bottom and having hinged rectangular flaps extending along the edges of said top and bottom openings, said flaps at each opening when folded over toward each other serving to extend substantially entirely over the associated opening, with each of one pair of said flaps which are hinged on opposite side walls of the body having a predetermined length from its hinge to its free end, separate sleeve means inserted within said body forming separate rectangular cells within said body, there being at least one cell adjacent one of each said pair of flaps and each such cell extending from the adjacent opposite body wall a distance substantially equal to said predetermined length, and means individually securing an outer side of each of said sleeve means to opposite side walls of said receptacle with the inner sides of said sleeve means being unconnected and separable from each other.

-5. In the container assembly defined in claim 4, there being at least one external indicator line formed on said receptacle lying in a plane passing between adjacent inner walls of said sleeve means whereby the closed container assembly may be subdivided into separate units each comgrising a cell closed at top and bottom by sections of said aps.

6. In the container assembly defined in claim 4, a continuous horizontal peripheral line formed around said container body in spaced relation to the bottom providing an indication for severing the body side walls and removing the body top for display of the contents.

7. A divisible shipping or like container assembly comprising a main receptacle formed from a folded blank of relatively stiff material, said receptacle comprising a rectangular body closed at its sides and open at its top and bottom and having hinged rectangular flaps extending along the edges of said top and bottom openings, said flaps at each opening when folded over toward each other serving to extend substantially entirely over the associated opening, sleeve means disposed within said body forming separate rectangular cells within said body, each of one pair of both top and bottom flaps which are hinged on opposite walls of the body being of such size and extending a sufficient distance over said opening to cover the adjacent sleeve ends, means separately securing an outer side of each of said sleeve means to a wall of said receptacle with the inner sides of said sleeve means being unconnected and separable from each other, and at least one external indicator line formed on said receptacle lying in a plane passing between adjacent inner sides of said sleeve means whereby the closed container assembly may be subdivided into separate units each comprising a cell closed at top and bottom by sections of said flaps.

8. A divisible shipping or like container assembly comprising a main receptacle formed from a folded blank of relatively stiff material, said receptacle comprising a body closed at its sides and ends and open at its top and bottom and having hinged side and end flaps extending along the edges of said top and bottom openings, said. side flaps at each opening when folded over toward each other serving to extend substantially entirely over the associated opening and said end flaps when folded over toward each other extending only a predetermined distance over the associated opening with their inner edges spaced by a distance equal to an even multiple of said predeten mined distance, sleeve means disposed within the receptacle forming successive open end separate cells along the length of said receptacle, each cell having its longitudinal dimension substantially equal to said predetermined distance, and means securing an outer side of each of said sleeve means separately to the side walls of said receptacle with the inner sides of said sleeve means being unconnected and separable from each other, means for securing said side and end flaps in said folded over relation at said openings with said end flaps covering the adjacent cell ends.

9. A divisible shipping or like container assembly comprising a main receptacle formed from a folded blank of relatively stiff material, said receptacle comprising a body closed at its sides and ends and open at the top and bottom and having hinged side and end flaps extending along the edges of said top and bottom openings, said side flaps at each opening when folded over toward each other serving to extend substantially entirely over the associated opening and said end flaps when folded over toward each other extending only a predetermined distance over the associated opening with their inner edges spaced by a distance equal to a multiple of said predetermined distance, sleeve means disposed within the receptacle forming successive open end separate cells along the length of said receptacle, each cell having its longitudinal dimension substantially equal to said predetermined distance, means securing each of said sleeve means separately to the side walls of said receptacle, means for securing said side and end flaps in said folded over relation at said openings with said end flaps covering the adjacent cell ends, top and bottom closure pads within each cell that is not underlying said end flaps fixedly secured to the associated folded over side flaps, and transverse cut lines on said receptacle aligned with the spaces between said sleeve means whereby the assembly may be subdivided into separate containers each comprising a cell closed at top and bottom by sections of said receptacle flaps.

10. A divisible shipping or like container assembly comprising a main receptacle formed from a folded blank of relatively stiff materials, said receptacle comprising a rectangular body closed at its sides and ends and open at its top and bottom and having hinged rectangular side and end flaps extending along the edges of said top and bottom openings, said side flaps at each opening when folded over toward each other serving to extend substantially entirely over the associated opening and said end flaps when folded over toward each other extending only a predetermined distance over the associated opening with their inner edges spaced by a distance equal to an even' multiple of said predetermined distance, contiguous sleeve means inserted within the folded blank forming successive open top separate rectangular cells along the length of said receptacle, each cell having its longitudinal dimension substantially equal to said predetermined distance, means separately securing an outer side of each of said cell forming means to an adjacent side wall of said receptacle with the inner sides of said cell forming means being unconnected and separable from each other with said body, means for securing said side and end flaps in said folded over relation at said openings, and external transverse cut lines on said receptacle aligned with planes through the interfaces between the inner walls of said sleeve means whereby the assembly may be subdivided into separate containers each comprising a cell closed at top and bottom by sections of said receptacle flaps.

11. A divisible shipping or like container assembly comprising a main receptacle formed from a folded blank of relatively stiff material, said receptacle comprising a rectangular body closed at its sides and ends and open at its top and bottom and having hinged rectangular side and end flaps extending along the edges of said top and bottom openings, said side flaps at each opening when folded over toward each other serving to extend substantially entirely over the associated opening and said end flaps when folded over toward each other extending a predetermined area over the associated opening, sleeve means disposed within the folded blank forming at least three separate successive open top rectangular cells along the length of said receptacle, said cells equal transverse areas and said end flaps covering the open ends of at least a whole number of said cells, means separately securing an outer side of each of said cell forming means to an adjacent side wall of said receptacle with the inner sides of said cell forming means being unconnected and separable from each other within said body, means for securing said side and end flaps in said folded over relation at said guiding subdivision of said assembly into self-contained units.

12. A divisible shipping or like container assembly comprising a main receptacle formed from a folded blank of relatively stiff material, said receptacle comprising a rectangular body closed at its sides and ends and open at its top and bottom and having hinged rectangular side and end flaps extending along the edges of said top and bottom openings, said side flaps at each opening when folded over toward each other serving to extend substantially entirely over the associated opening and said end flaps when folded over toward. each other extending a predetermined area over the associated opening, sleeve means disposed within the folded blank forming at least three separate successive open top rectangular cellsalong the length of said receptacle, said cells having equal transverse areas and said end flaps covering the open ends of at least a whole number of said cells, means separately securing each of said cell forming means to the side walls of said receptacle, means for securing said side and end flaps in said folded over relation at said opening, means providing vertical cut lines on said receptacle body aligned with the spaces between said sleeve means for guiding subdivision of said assembly into self-contained units, and means defining a continuous cut line extending around said side and end walls of the receptacle below the means securing said sleeve means to said walls whereby when the container assembly is cut therealong the entire upper part of said receptacle with said sleeve means attached thereto may be removed to leave the lower part of the receptacle as a tray exposing the contents of said cells.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,882,524 10/1932 Sherman 22951 2,614,745 10/1952 F'allert et a1. 2,617,576 11/1952 Bergstein 22941 X 3,043,490 7/ 1962 Burnett. 3,136,474 6/1964 Schaus et al. 229-51 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

D. M. BOCKENEK, Assistant Examiner; 

1. A DIVISIBLE SHIPPING OR LIKE CONTAINER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A MAIN RECEPTACLE FORMED FROM A FOLDED BLANK OR RELATIVELY STIFF MATERIAL, SAID RECEPTACLE COMPRISING A BODY CLOSED AT ITS SIDES BY OPPOSED SIDE WALLS AND OPEN AT ITS TOP AND BOTTOM AND HAVING HINGED FLAPS EXTENDING FROM THE SIDE WALLS ALONG THE EDGES OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM OPENINGS, SAID FLAPS AT EACH OPENING WHEN FOLDED OVER TOWARD EACH OTHER SERVING TO EXTEND SUBSTANTIALLY ENTIRELY OVER THE ASSOCIATED BODY OPENING, WITH EACH OF ONE PAIR OF BOTH TOP AND BOTTOM OPENING, WITH EACH OF OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS OF THE BODY EXTENDING ONLY A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE OVER SAID OPENING, INDIVIDUAL SLEEVE MEANS WITHIN SAID BODY FORMING SEPARATE OPEN TOP AND BOTTOM UNIT CELLS WITHIN SAID BODY, EACH CELLS HAVING DIMENSION SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO SAID PREDETERMINED DISTANCE SO THAT SAID ONE PAIR OF FLAPS EXTENDS OVER AND CLOSE THE TOPS AND BOTTOMS OF THE ADJACENT CELLS WITHIN SAID BODY, MEANS SEPARARELY SECURING AN OUTER SIDE OF EACH OF SAID SLEEVE MEANS TO A SIDE WALL OF SAID RECEPTACLE BODY AND THE INNER SIDES OF SAID SLEEVE MEANS BEING UNCONNECTED AND SEPARABLE FROM EACH OTHER WITHIN THE BODY, AND AT LEAST ONE EXTERNAL INDICATOR LINE FORMED ON SAID RECEPTACLE LYING IN A PLANE PASSING BETWEEN ADJACENT INNER SIDES OF SAID SLEEVE MEANS WHEREBY THE CLOSED CONTAINER ASSEMBLY MAY BE SUBDIVIDED INTO SEPARATE INDIVIDUAL UNITS EACH COMPRISING A CELL COVERED AT TOP AND BOTTOM BY SECTIONS OF FLAPS. 